Letter

From Hankow. On a daily basis he wonders where they are and how they are, especially Peter. He supposes that they will not be far away from Port Said [Egypt]. Nothing has been received since they left Singapore. Yesterday's Methodist Recorder with the account of [C. Stanley] Minty' tragic death [by drowning in the sea near Cardiff] was quite staggaring - first [J. Sydney] Helps [died in Manchester 1929] and now this. C.C. Kiwan fell from his house the other day and broke a leg, all of which serves to remind him that there are more ways of getting into trouble than the present difficulties with the Communists. The enclosed letter from [Charles William] Andrews will, he thinks be of use to Emily upon her arrival in England. 'After all it is not the officers but the [Methodist?] Union party that have spilt the beans'. H B R was glad to have this information as well as that in [Joseph Kimber Hill's] letter. [James John] Heady has been with him for the week. Probably [Cyril George] Baker and his wife will be coming here to share the house. Baker is to assume pastoral oversight in the hospital if that arrangement is finalised. H B R will give them the two district rooms and the nursery. They will of course have meals together. There is little hope that people will be able to return to Hunan this winter. If Changsha falls again, Hankow itself will be in danger. Mrs Pell got back yesterday with the Coundells. Grace and most of the others are also back at work. The first English service was held on Sunday, [unreadable name] and Cook were there - they have now gone over to [Herman Stanley] Dixon. Wesley College is quite full under its new head and the other places are doing well. Personal matters are discussed. [E. Curtiss] Franklin has told him that Morley and Mr A. S. F. had been together looking for a house, so it is to be hoped that Emily and the children will have somewhere to go on disembarkation. He thinks that the people here are genuinely pleased that H B R will remain with them - as Emily herself felt it is a difficult time to leave. There will however be great joy among the Rattenburys at Emily's homecoming.